Woodbridge Town lift Suffolk Senior Cup

Woodbridge Town players celebrate their 3-0 victory over Bungay Town by lifting the Suffolk Senior Cup aloft. Picture: SARAH LUCY BROWN (Image: Archant)

Woodbridge Town beat plucky Bungay Town to win the Suffolk Senior Cup following an entertaining final played in front of a good crowd of 987 at Portman Road tonight.

First-half goals by Matt Mackenzie and Liam Scopes put the Woodpeckers in the driving seat, and George Bowman added a late third to see off the Black Dogs, who were unlucky not to score themselves during a positive second-half display.

There was also a cameo appearance from former Ipswich Town star Carlos Edwards, who came on as a 78th minute substitute for Woodbridge.

Bungay, the underdogs, settled well and they created the first real chance of the game, striker Ashley Canham’s 20-yard daisy-cutter being comfortably gathered by keeper Alfie Strong.

The Woodpeckers came closer to breaking the deadlock on 10 minutes, when Alex Greggor blasted a shot narrowly over the bar while slightly off balance.

Bungay had concerns over the fitness of keeper Jordan Rhys-Smith before the 20-minute mark.

Rhys-Smith arched back to catch an inswinging corner by Greggor. He was fouled while taking the catch and fell heavily, the ball spinning loose with Mark Ray bundling it over the line.

It was a clear foul, so the goal did not stand, but Rhys-Smith required several minutes of treatment on the pitch before being able to continue.

And Rhys-Smith had to be at his best to keep the scores level on the half-hour mark, as he beat away Mackenzie’s fierce drive with strong hands.

However, he could do little about either Mackenzie’s thunderbolt on 36 minutes, which gave the Woodpeckers the lead, or Scopes’ close-range effort which doubled the lead just two minutes later.

It was very nearly 3-0 in first-half injury-time, Mackenzie steering wide at the near post.

Bungay twice came close to halving the deficit, within the first few minutes of the second half. Ryan Cook ballooned a shot over the bar, from a great position, while Canham’s long-range drive was spectacularly diverted onto the bar by keeper Stronge.

Canham then struck the post from distance, and although substitute Dean Flint swept home the rebound, he was standing in an offside position. Bowman made the game safe for the Woodpeckers with a third in the 80th minute.

BUNGAY: Rhys-Smith, Weston-King (sub Olley, 69), Cook (sub Flint, 62), Daniels, Hunting, Whiteman, Mirner, Solomon (sub Wooldridge, 65), Canham, Knights, Riches. Unused subs: Ling, Clay.

WOOD BRIDGE: Stronge, Rae, Hammond, Bowman, Churchyard, Scopes, Mackenzie (sub Sinclair, 73), Southgate (sub Green, 85), Ray, Greggor (sub Edwards, 78), Keeble. Unused subs: Garnham, Holmes.

Attendance: 987